- by Ray Bernard
Penalty points alter driving behavious
27 May 2003: Over 80% of motorists in Ireland have altered their driving behaviour on foot of the introduction of penalty points for speeding, according to research commissioned by tyre distributor Semperit Ireland.
The study of over 600 motorists nationwide, also found that younger drivers - the driver category where road fatalities are concentrated - are more influenced by the new system than any other demographic group.
The Lansdowne Market research, carried out last month, found that 56% of motorists are driving 'a lot more carefully' because of penalty points, with a further 27% claiming to have altered their driving somewhat. Only 17% confess to being uninfluenced by the system in their driving. Male drivers were marginally more responsive than their female counterparts.
87% of drivers between 17 and 34 claim to drive more carefully because of penalty points, with 56% now driving 'a lot more carefully.' Generally, the older the driver the lower the impact of penalty points. The research shows that 22% of drivers over 50 have not been influenced in their driving by the new penalties.
A noticeable finding in the Semperit research was the disparity between urban and rural drivers. Over one quarter of Dublin motorists said the penalty points had no effect on their driving. This fell to just 10% in the case of drivers in Connaught/Ulster.
©2003 irishcar.com